Buying a New Computer

What to look for to ensure it meets your needs

The IT industry is very fast moving and what is top of the range one minute is out of date the next. Without being too specific, this article is designed to help you through the maze of IT terminology to help you choose your next computer.

There are as many makes and models as there are people looking to buy. It is important to find a system that is suited to your needs, and your budget.

First some terminology:-

Processor (CPU) - The heart of the PC determining the overall speed of the machine. This is normally measured in GHz and the faster, the better (and more expensive). Major manufacturers include Intel and AMD. New processors have multiple 'cores' - effectively fusing two standard processors together. A 'Dual Core' has (in theory) nearly the performance of 2x standard CPUs, A 'Quad Core' has (in theory) nearly the performance of 4x standard CPUs etc.
Memory (RAM) - The short term data storage. This also has an effect on the speed as it is used by the processor to perform calculations. This is normally measured in Gigabytes (GB) and as usual, the more, the better (and the more expensive). There are also many standards relating to the speed (SDRAM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3, etc). Normally easily upgraded and relatively cheap.
Hard Disk (HDD) - This is the long term data storage used to permanently store your documents, photos, games, music etc. This is normally measured in Gigabytes (GB) and now TeraBytes (TB). 1TB=1000MB. The more space, the more expensive.
Monitor (TFT or CRT) - This is the screen and can eiither be flat (TFT, LCD etc) or CRT (the old tube design). It is important to note that the size of the screen is measured diagonally in inches (from the top left corner of the viewable area, to the bottom right).

Lets look at some of the common reasons for buying a PC and what hardware you should look for:-

Home System (Internet Browsing, Email, Homework, Music)
- Mid-range Processor.
- Mid-range Memory - Note: Windows Vista recommends a minimum of 1GB.
- Mid-range Hard Disk - Most people tend to use less than 80GB, but it is always useful to have additional space as the price difference between mid-range drives is relatively small.
Business System (Word Processing, Letter Writing and General Office Work)
- Mid-range Processor.
- Mid-range Memory - Allowing you to run a few applications at once (such as MS Word, Excel etc).
- Good clear Monitor - If you're going to sit in front of it for a while!
- 'Ergonomic' Keyboard - To allow a comfortable typing position.
- Good quality Mouse.
Photo Editing (Manipulating images, Storing Photos)
- Mid to High End Processor.
- Lots of Memory - Photo processing is VERY memory hungry.
- Large Hard Disk - for storing your photos.
- External Hard Disk - for backing up your precious photos should the system fail.
Gaming System (2D / 3D Gaming)
- High End Processor - The best you can afford.
- Lots of Memory - Games require a lot of processing power to run smoothly.
- 3D Graphics card - The standard video is not normally sufficient for 3D graphics. Go for a good quality specialist 3D card such as the GeForce series.
- Hard Disk - Since the introduction of DVD, games are getting bigger! If you want more than a couple installed at once, you'll need a reasonable sized hard disk.
- Many gaming systems are custom built for the purpose requiring additional cooling / power for all of the hardware.

It is always a good idea to shop around and see what is available and find the best deal. Things like DVDs and USB ports come as standard these days, but if there is anything you specifically need, always ask as they cannot always be added at a later date. Always allow for some future expansion and ask whether the system can be upgraded before you buy.

We are always happy to offer advice on the latest hardware and answer any questions that you may have. Contact us on 0118 9845005.